South African Class 5 4-6-2
Encyclopedia
In 1912 four Enlarged Karoo Class 4-6-2
Pacific passenger steam locomotive
s that had been ordered by the Cape Government Railways
the year before, were placed in service by the newly established South African Railways. The locomotives were therefore numbered directly onto the South African Railways roster and classified as Class 5.
(NGR) and Central South African Railways
(CSAR) had all prepared designs and placed orders for new locomotives shortly prior to 1912, when they were all amalgamated into the South African Railways (SAR). The CGR’s Enlarged Karoo, built by Vulcan Foundry
, was one of the locomotive types that were designed and ordered before the SAR was established and that ended up being delivered to the newly established national railways of the Union of South Africa
, becoming the SAR Class 5 and numbered 780 to 783.
The Class 5 was a larger and heavier version of the Class 5B
, with a higher pitched boiler, Belpaire firebox
, larger diameter pilot and driving wheels and larger cylinders.
Only one of the Class 5 locomotives, number 781, was reboilered with a Watson Standard no. 1 boiler and reclassified to Class 5R. In the process it was also equipped with a superheater. The most obvious visual difference between the Class 5 and Class 5R is the absence of the Belpaire firebox hump between the cab and boiler on the reboilered locomotive.
to the Strand and Stellenbosch.
The three Class 5 locomotives were withdrawn from service by 1942, but the sole Class 5R remained in suburban service in Cape Town, where it gained fame for the unusual achievement of being an individual locomotive that worked the same train, the Strand Express, for more than thirty years. It was only withdrawn on occasion for maintenance in the locomotive depot or for heavy repairs in the shops. During this time it regularly attained a speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) while en route between Cape Town and Bellville. It was sub-shedded at Sir Lowry's Pass and always had regular drivers.
When the Strand line was electrified in the mid 1960s, 781 was transferred to the Eastern Transvaal System as a shunter at Nylstroom, and later to Capital Park in Pretoria. From there it was transferred to the Western Transvaal System and was briefly stationed at Springs, and then spent its last years in service as station pilot at Germiston until it was retired in 1969.
After withdrawal from service, it was returned to the Salt River Shops in Cape Town for use in the training of apprentice fitters, until it was moved to De Aar for preservation.
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
Pacific passenger steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s that had been ordered by the Cape Government Railways
Cape Government Railways
The Cape Government Railways was the government-owned railway operator in the Cape Colony from 1874 until the creation of the South African Railways in 1910.-Private railways:...
the year before, were placed in service by the newly established South African Railways. The locomotives were therefore numbered directly onto the South African Railways roster and classified as Class 5.
Manufacturer
The Cape Government Railways (CGR), Natal Government RailwaysNatal government railways
The Natal Government Railways was formed in January 1877 in the Colony of Natal.In 1877 the Natal Government Railways acquired the Natal Railway Company for the sum of £40,000, gaining the line from the Point to Durban and from Durban to Umgeni...
(NGR) and Central South African Railways
Central South African Railways
From 1902 to 1904, the area of power of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Girouard later also included the lines of The Netherlands-South African Railway Company; together this dominion covered all lines in the Transvaal that belonged to NZASM ....
(CSAR) had all prepared designs and placed orders for new locomotives shortly prior to 1912, when they were all amalgamated into the South African Railways (SAR). The CGR’s Enlarged Karoo, built by Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
, was one of the locomotive types that were designed and ordered before the SAR was established and that ended up being delivered to the newly established national railways of the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
, becoming the SAR Class 5 and numbered 780 to 783.
The Class 5 was a larger and heavier version of the Class 5B
South African Class 5B 4-6-2
In 1904 the Cape Government Railways placed four Karoo Class 4-6-2 Pacific passenger steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and classified as Class 5B.-Manufacturer:...
, with a higher pitched boiler, Belpaire firebox
Belpaire firebox
The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...
, larger diameter pilot and driving wheels and larger cylinders.
Watson Standard boilers
In the 1930s many serving locomotives were reboilered with a standard boiler type designed by then Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) A.G. Watson as part of his standardisation policy. Such Watson Standard reboilered locomotives were reclassified by adding an "R" suffix to their classification.Only one of the Class 5 locomotives, number 781, was reboilered with a Watson Standard no. 1 boiler and reclassified to Class 5R. In the process it was also equipped with a superheater. The most obvious visual difference between the Class 5 and Class 5R is the absence of the Belpaire firebox hump between the cab and boiler on the reboilered locomotive.
Service
They were placed in service on main line passenger service between Cape Town and Touws River, where they remained until the loads became too heavy for them. From about 1928 they were used on secondary services, chiefly hauling suburban passenger trains from Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
to the Strand and Stellenbosch.
The three Class 5 locomotives were withdrawn from service by 1942, but the sole Class 5R remained in suburban service in Cape Town, where it gained fame for the unusual achievement of being an individual locomotive that worked the same train, the Strand Express, for more than thirty years. It was only withdrawn on occasion for maintenance in the locomotive depot or for heavy repairs in the shops. During this time it regularly attained a speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) while en route between Cape Town and Bellville. It was sub-shedded at Sir Lowry's Pass and always had regular drivers.
When the Strand line was electrified in the mid 1960s, 781 was transferred to the Eastern Transvaal System as a shunter at Nylstroom, and later to Capital Park in Pretoria. From there it was transferred to the Western Transvaal System and was briefly stationed at Springs, and then spent its last years in service as station pilot at Germiston until it was retired in 1969.
After withdrawal from service, it was returned to the Salt River Shops in Cape Town for use in the training of apprentice fitters, until it was moved to De Aar for preservation.
Gallery
The main picture shows Class 5 780 as delivered, circa 1912.See also
- South African Class 5A 4-6-2South African Class 5A 4-6-2In 1903 the Cape Government Railways placed two Karoo Class steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and reclassified to Class 5A....
- South African Class 5B 4-6-2South African Class 5B 4-6-2In 1904 the Cape Government Railways placed four Karoo Class 4-6-2 Pacific passenger steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and classified as Class 5B.-Manufacturer:...
- Tender locomotive numbering and classification
- Watson Standard boilers
- The 4-6-2 "Pacific"
- List of South African locomotive classes